The meeting comes as members of Congress and lawmakers are calling for strong action.

Wednesday, September 11th 2019, 1:38 PM EDT by NBC News

A man blows smoke while using a vape as he walks along Broadway in New York City on Sept. 9, 2019.

Andrew Kelly / Reuters

The Trump administration said Wednesday it plans to ban the sale of non-tobacco-flavored electronic cigarettes amid a vaping crisis.

“The Trump Administration is making it clear that we intend to clear the market of flavored e-cigarettes to reverse the deeply concerning epidemic of youth e-cigarette use that is impacting children, families, schools and communities,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. “We will not stand idly by as these products become an on-ramp to combustible cigarettes or nicotine addiction for a generation of youth.”

Federal health authorities have reported an outbreak of mysterious illnesses tied to the popular devices.

The number of vaping-related illnesses jumped to at least 450 cases in 33 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which cautioned people against using e-cigarettes, especially those bought off the street in a warning Friday.

The administration meeting comes as members of Congress and lawmakers are calling for strong action.

On Tuesday, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should consider recalling e-cigarettes as it continues to investigate recent deaths and illnesses related to vaping.

"I’m increasingly concerned that a generation of young people has been deceived into thinking e-cigarettes are safe," he tweeted.

In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he will advance legislation to ban flavored e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

"The rise in vaping-associated illnesses is a frightening public health phenomenon," Cuomo said on Monday.

First lady Melania Trump also weighed in on the matter in a statement this week.

"I am deeply concerned about the growing epidemic of e-cigarette use in our children," she wrote. "We need to do all we can to protect the public from tobacco-related disease and death, and prevent e-cigarettes from becoming an on-ramp to nicotine addiction for a generation of youth."